A senior election official who presided over the national female youth MP elections in Hoima is reportedly living in fear after the exercise ended in controversy.
Sources have told Bbeg Media that Jenifer Kyobutungyi, who acted as the returning officer during the polls at Hoima Stadium on February 4, 2026 is fearing for her safety following threats and pressure from rival political camps.
Kyobutungyi declared independent candidate Mercy Kanyesigye the winner after a close contest with NRM’s Diana Ampaire Kampe. Kanyesigye got 216 votes while Ampaire garnered 198 votes.
Ampaire petitioned the Electoral Commission (EC), challenging the outcome, but she did not succeed. She later took the matter to court, citing alleged irregularities in the tallying and handling of results.
Kyobutungyi is not caught in the middle as various camps accuse her of favouring one candidate over another.
Efforts to talk to her were futile, but sources told us she recently told colleagues that she feels unsafe.
She says in the past days, she has been trailed by several vehicles whose occupants she suspects could be operatives from interested camps seeking access to the disputed voting materials.
The case is scheduled for a hearing today before Hoima Magistrate’s Court.
